Wednesday Racing Tips from Architect

It should be worth mentioning that Johnny Burke, who was on Casa Tall when that horse was travelling well until his departure last time out, has opted to ride KAKAMORA (best price 7-2) at Ludlow. This seven-year-old hasn’t been able to translate his hurdles form so far to this sphere in which he’s finished third in all five outings, but he’s four pounds lower than when completing a double at Perth around this time last year over hurdles which was the last time he encountered his favoured good ground. He ran well last time despite his lacking fluency and from a two-pound mark, this could be the time to catch him with conditions in his favour.

I’m not sure what happened with WHATSDASTORY (best price 17-2) last time who ran well below his best but I’m going to give him one more chance, purely based upon his career-low mark with Lee Edwards back in the plate. He placed four times last year off higher marks and is a couple of pounds lower than when scoring over fences at Taunton back in January. Also, if you go back to February 2020, he went close over course and distance when second off a mark of 118 and was desperately unlucky here on his penultimate start, where he was practically brought to a standstill at the seventh hurdle. He did remarkably well to recover his position and get himself into a winning position down the home straight but the energy used to get back in contention told late on. That was in a better race than today’s event and while he needs to put aside a lesser showing last time, the return to this venue might enable him to bounce back to his best and run a big race. 

ANNIVERSARY BELLE (best price 11-1) hasn’t looked short of ability nor speed in three runs to date for Pam Sly and this filly by No Nay Never could be competitive on handicap debut dropping back in trip. She’s shaped well at Yarmouth the last two times over six furlongs, firstly when keeping on to finish third in a race that has produced two subsequent winners before finishing midfield back there when last spotted. However, her debut third, at Beverley, was eye-catching given she set a good pace and was only caught in the final half-furlong by a filly who’s now rated 78. An opening mark of 57 on handicap debut has underestimated her credentials back down in grade and if ridden a bit more positive, similar to her debut display, she could be the each-way answer under Shane Kelly in this weak event with four places generally available. 

In the British EBF William Hill Gold Castle 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle, I like the claims of GALIA DES LITEAUX (best price 6-1), who could capitalise on all the allowances she will receive from the remainder. She absolutely bolted up on hurdles debut by 30 lengths, defeating a subsequent listed winner, and then made a good first of it when third at Ascot next time under positive tactics. She might not have beaten the winner but she would have finished second without wandering around and being hampered between the last two hurdles. She was just a half-a-length adrift of Complete Unknown at the finish and meets that rival on at least eight-pounds better terms here so has a fair chance of reversing the form. The step-up in trip should suit and being open to further progression, she’s an appealing candidate for the Skelton’s.